- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Police Force has made clarifications over the viral video capturing suspected armed terrorists riding through a checkpoint unchallenged.
NPO earlier Reported that video circulated across social media platforms of Wednesday had sparked mixed reactions from the public.
It also alleged comprise as one of the police officers at the checkpoint was recorded waving at the suspected insurgents.
Reacting in a statement ossued by its spokesperson, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, the police dismissed the claims surrounding the video confirmed to be recorded in Katsina State.
Iniedu described the narrative accompanying the video as false and misleading.
He disclosed that the individuals seen in the footage were recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and registered hunters assisting security agencies in ongoing operations in Katsina State.
According to the police spokesperson, the individuals featured in the video were “duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters who are actively supporting ongoing security operations in collaboration with security agencies in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of the state.”
On the officers waving at the armed men, the force explained that it is a routine interaction between a police officer and the security volunteers as they headed to an operational area to support efforts aimed at combating crime and enhancing public safety.
“The video captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they proceeded to a designated operational area in support of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety,” the statement read.
The police maintained that allegations suggesting that the officer was fraternising with bandits were unfounded.
“Any claim suggesting otherwise is entirely false, malicious, and intended to mislead the public,” the statement added.
While condemning what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts, the force further warned that the spread of misinformation could create unnecessary panic, erode public trust in security institutions and undermine ongoing security operations.
It urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government sources.
The police also warned that individuals involved in creating or spreading false information capable of threatening public peace and security could face legal consequences.